Extension to Takeover and Merger deadline

19th Oct 2015

This is an announcement falling under Rule 2.4 of the Takeover Code and does not constitute an announcement of a firm intention to make an offer under Rule 2.7 of the Takeover Code. There can be no certainty that an offer will be made nor as to the terms on which any offer might be made.

Extension to deadline under Rule 2.6(c) of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the "Code")

On 24 August 2015 the board of EKF (the "Board") announced that it had received a proposal from Jinjing (Group) Co., Ltd ("Jinjing") regarding a possible offer for the whole of the issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of the Company.

The original deadline for Jinjing to either announce a firm intention to make an offer for the Company or announce that it does not intend to make an offer was 5 p.m. on 18 September 2015. This deadline was subsequently extended, with the consent of the Panel on Takeovers and Mergers (the "Panel"), to 5 p.m. on 19 October 2015.

The parties are working together to conclude confirmatory due diligence and to agree the terms of a possible transaction, which includes, amongst other things, continuing discussions on the offer structure. Alternative structures under consideration include a cash offer by Jinjing for the entire issued share capital of EKF in combination with a distribution by EKF of its interests in its Molecular business to existing shareholders or a sale of certain assets by EKF to Jinjing in combination with a return of value by EKF to existing shareholders.

In accordance with Rule 2.6(c) of the Code, the Board has requested that the Panel extend the relevant deadline, as referred to above, to enable the parties to continue their discussions regarding a possible offer. Accordingly, an extension has been granted by the Panel and Jinjing must, by no later than 5 p.m. on 23 October 2015, either announce a firm intention to make an offer for EKF in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the Code or announce that it does not intend to make an offer, in which case the announcement will be treated as a statement to which Rule 2.8 of the Code applies. This deadline will only be extended with the consent of the Panel.

A further announcement will be made when appropriate. In the meantime, EKF shareholders are advised by the Board to take no action. There can be no certainty that any formal offer for the Company will be forthcoming, nor as to the terms of any such formal offer.

This announcement has been made with the agreement and approval of Jinjing.

EKF Diagnostics

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc is a manufacturer and distrbutor of IVD products. It has three core divisions: Point of Care including hemoglobin and HbA1c analyzers; Central Laboratory including the manufacture of enzymes and clinical chemistry; and Molecular Diagnostics which incorporates a unique DNA enrichment technology, PointMan, and a portfolio of molecular testing services.